Rise and fall: the building, commonly known as "La Madama", that once housed the manufacture of H. Upmann’s world-famous cigars was lost after the Hupmann family went bankrupt.
Keep Smiling, No Matter What!
Simon Chase is not sure about it – for one reason or another it has fallen to him to conduct the auction of humidors at the Gala Dinner on the last night of the Festival del Habano in Havana for 13 out of the last 14 years. If all goes well, by the time you read this article it will be 14 out of the last 15 years.
La Flor Dominicana holds the only Cigar Patent
Litto Gomez and his wife Ines Lorenzo Gomez made the bold move into the cigar business in 1994 – without any experience. Today La Flor Dominicana is one of the most highly regarded brands.
Ashes to Ashes
At first sight merely the waste after enjoyment, ash performs an important function and reveals a lot about the cigar. White or light grey ash for example is a sign for high potassium content in the soil and the ash’s structure reflects the quantity of tobacco used and the rolling technique.
Charity & Cigars – The Generous Passion
Cigar lovers and makers provide jobs, relief and charity on a massive scale. This group has a tremendous impact on the living standards of poor regions and is sending more poor kids from the regions to college than have ever gone before.
Estelí – The Cigar City
A thriving tobacco industry transformed the former Nicaraguan farming town of Estelí into a Mecca for cigar smokers.
Tabacalera Incorporada – The Filipino Tabacalera
With the recent launch of the Gran Reserva and a new USA distribution deal, the Philippines’ oldest cigar manufacturer, Tabacalera Incorporada, is intent on returning to global prominence.
Comparative Test: One Vitola – Three Types of Storage
What are the effects of storage on a cigar? Our humidor expert Marc André presented three identical but completely differently stored cigars to 45 testers.
El Laguito – Havana’s Most Beautiful Cigar Factory
Who's the fairest one of all? Snow White's evil stepmother had to look into a mirror for reassurance that she was the fairest in the land. There’s no question, however, which cigar factory is Havana's most beautiful: without a doubt, it’s El Laguito.
Boutique Cigars: Pete Johnson’s first Decade with Tatuaje
From musician to cigar sommelier to cigar maker: there's never a dull moment in the life of Pete Johnson. It has been a fairly wild ride as he approaches his 10th year as a cigar manufacturer.
Nestor Plasencia Sr. Honored for Lifetime Achievement
Nestor Plasencia Sr. is one of the best known tobacco growers and cigar-makers in the cigar industry. When his Lifetime achievement Trophy was announced in Orlando, the entire room rose to their feet with applause.
Fake Cigars and Fake Wines
Don’t you hate it? The guys next to you are smoking fake Cohibas and it’s so obvious. Yet, some people smoke them. A large part of them knows damned well they are smoking fakes, but it’s the same thing with fake wines: they don’t want to pay the price for the real deal.
